Warning over fire safety as third pensioner dies

THE fire service is urging elderly people to have their homes checked after an 89-year-old woman became the third pensioner to die from a house fire within a month.

Elsie Allerton died last week, after she was admitted to hospital on January 1 with 60 per cent burns to her lower body.

The injuries were sustained when her clothes caught fire after standing too close to an open flame gas fire at her home in Meir.

Statistics show 84 per cent of fire deaths in Staffordshire since 2007 have involved people over the age of 65.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it reiterates the importance of having home fire risk checks.

The emergency services were called to Mrs Allerton's home in Macdonald Crescent just after 5pm on New Year's Day.

The blaze was already out when firefighters arrived, but Mrs Allerton suffered the burns to her lower body, including her legs and bottom.

She was being treated at Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham.

Neighbours paying tribute to the mother-of-two have described her as an independent woman who will be greatly missed.

Margaret Snape, also of Macdonald Crescent, knew Mrs Allerton for 38 years.

The 62-year-old said: "She will be missed terribly, especially by us.

"I used to see her every Thursday up Tesco shopping with her daughter. We would stand and have a natter. She never complained about anything."

Margaret's husband, 63-year-old Keith, said: "I used to talk to her when I saw her in the garden and we would pass five minutes away at Tesco.

"Her husband was the gardener but when he passed away she liked to keep it as a tribute to him."

Mrs Allerton's death follows that of Stafford pensioner Gillian Bromley, who died on New Year's Day after a fire in her home, thought to have been started when a convector fan heater set fire to bedding.

A 79-year-old, identified by neighbours as Beryl Wain, died on January 26 after a fire in her Wolstanton home.

Firefighters think the blaze started when Mrs Wain fell asleep while smoking in her living room.

The fire service is currently running a campaign called Young at Heart, Safe at Home, which aims to raise awareness of fire safety among the elderly.

People are being urged to support the campaign by letting the fire service know about people who could benefit from a visit or alerting them to groups and clubs for elderly people.

Chief fire officer Peter Dartford said: "It's extremely sad to be reporting a third fire death in less than a month – we cannot stress enough how important it is to ensure elderly people are as a safe as possible in their homes.

"In recent years we have a seen a number of elderly people die due to fires caused by heating devices, such as open fires and real flame heaters.

"With low temperatures expected to remain with us throughout February, it's crucial for us to ensure that elderly people are keeping warm safely."

Mrs Allerton's funeral arrangements have not yet been finalised.

Free home fire risk checks can be booked by calling 0800 0241 999.